Aug 15th, 2012 at 4:00PM: Colorado is a big state, and most of it remained unscathed during June's wildfires. The Aspen region in particular is known for its knockout scenery, which includes the twin peaks of the Maroon Bells, wildflower-festooned meadows, shimmering aspen groves and crystalline rivers.
With fall foliage (if you've never witnessed the turning of aspens, it's worth seeing) just around the corner, The ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
colorado posts
Aspen's Little Nell Hotel Offers Free Fly-Fishing And Biking Now Through October 15
Aug 15th, 2012 at 4:00PM: Colorado is a big state, and most of it remained unscathed during June's wildfires. The Aspen region in particular is known for its knockout scenery, which includes the twin peaks of the Maroon Bells, wildflower-festooned meadows, shimmering aspen groves and crystalline rivers.
With fall foliage (if you've never witnessed the turning of aspens, it's worth seeing) just around the corner, The ...Where To Sleep During A Long-Haul Road Trip: Putting A Price On Your Safety
Aug 14th, 2012 at 11:00AM: As you may have gathered from my last few posts, I spent the second half of July and first week of August living out of my car during a relocation from Seattle to Boulder. En route, I had a family vacation on the Klamath River in Northern California, and business trips to the Bay Area and North Carolina, which is why I was in limbo.
I've road-tripped and relocated across the West many times, ...The Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race Takes Place Today
Aug 11th, 2012 at 8:00AM: One of the most demanding mountain bike races in North America takes place today in Leadville, Colorado, where some of the top riders in the world will compete in the legendary Leadville 100 MTB. The race features a course that offers plenty of difficult climbs made all the more challenging due to the altitude at which the event takes place.
The Leadville 100 MTB was first held back in 1994 and ...The Worst-Smelling Towns In America
Aug 1st, 2012 at 9:00AM: Last week, I was in Eureka, California, for a couple of days with my parents and brother's family. Despite the cute, historic downtown and an epic feast at the renown Samoa Cookhouse, our overwhelming impression of this coastal city is that it should be renamed "Eureeka," because it stinks – literally.
The stench of ... bait fish? Fish meal or perhaps cat food processing enveloped our ...10 Title-Holding National Parks In The United States
Jul 15th, 2012 at 3:00PM: National parks hold some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the country, and sometimes even the world. Not only do these destinations make for great hiking, biking and adventure sports, but they also allow you to view one-of-a-kind facets you can't find anywhere else on the planet.
While Black Canyon of the Gunnison holds the title of being the country's newest national park, ...Reaching The Summit Of The United States' Most Visited Peak
Jul 11th, 2012 at 3:00PM: At 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak is one of Colorado's "fourteeners," mountain peaks reaching 14,000 feet or higher. Although not the highest, Pikes Peak is the country's most visited mountain, with more than a half million people reaching the summit each year. While hiking is how many people choose to brag about their reaching the top of these dizzying mountains, Pike's Peak is one of only two ...Exploring Western Colorado's Undiscovered Wine Region
Jul 10th, 2012 at 12:00PM: While many people know Colorado for its rich beer culture and plethora of breweries across the state, their wine regions have somehow managed to go undetected. The reality is, western Colorado is home to many fertile vineyards, boutique wineries and vino-related events. To help shed some light on the subject, here is a guide to exploring western Colorado's wine region.
History
Historically, ...A Summer Road Trip Through Southwest Colorado
Jul 10th, 2012 at 11:00AM: While usually thought of as a winter destination, Colorado has a lot to offer the summer traveler. For the itinerary below, I'd suggest touring the U.S. state via car, allotting at least two weeks, although three or four would be better.
Denver
Although this is technically central Colorado, it's an excellent starting point for your road trip, especially since you'll most likely be flying ...Sipping Vino At The Northern Hemisphere's Highest Winery And Vineyard
Jul 9th, 2012 at 11:00AM: Terror Creek Winery and Vineyard is located in the West Elks American Viticultural Area of Colorado. The establishment gets its name from the snow-fed stream residing along the property's edge, called Terror Creek. What makes Terror Creek really special is the fact that, at 6,400 feet, it's the highest winery and vineyard that's estate bottled in the northern hemisphere.
The winery sits atop ...Photo Gallery: Colorado Wildflowers
Jul 7th, 2012 at 3:00PM: Colorado may be burning, but it's also blooming. July kicks off wildflower season in the Rockies; in a place of perpetual photo opps, it's one of the most beautiful times to visit.
Crested Butte's annual Wildflower Festival is July 9-12, and includes over 80 hikes, 4x4 backcountry tours, and photography, gardening and cooking classes. If you can't make a trip out, enjoy these photos of Colorado ...
Quirky Hospitality In Ouray, Colorado
Jul 5th, 2012 at 4:00PM: There are many interesting cities to visit during a trip through Colorado. While Denver has excellent artisanal shops, you can find the world's highest distillery in Breckenridge. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, the little known town of Ouray offers various ways to receive quirky hospitality.
Quirky Restaurant: The Outlaw
Located at 610 Main Street, The Outlaw is the ...Hiking The Black Canyon In The United States' Newest National Park
Jul 5th, 2012 at 12:00PM: "Our surroundings were of the wildest possible description. The roar of the water ... was constantly in our ears, and the walls of the canyon, towering half mile in height above us, were seemingly vertical" - Abraham Lincoln Fellows, 1901
For those who love the outdoors and unique landscapes, Colorado is home to the United States' newest national park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Named a ...A Jeep Tour Through Colorado's Million Dollar Highway And Highway To Heaven
Jul 4th, 2012 at 3:00PM: When traveling through Colorado, one city I highly recommend visiting is the little known Ouray. Here, you'll not only get to take part in various adventure sports, sip beer at quirky breweries and eat scrap cookies at Mouse's, you'll also be able to take a scenic jeep tour through Colorado's Million Dollar Highway and Highway To Heaven.
When visiting Ouray, I took my jeep tour with San Juan ...Colorado's Most Surprising Dessert: The Scrap Cookie
Jul 3rd, 2012 at 9:00AM: While Colorado is home to many unique chocolate shops and bakeries, you usually know what you're ordering. Even if you purchase something unusual, like wasabi ginger dark chocolate or goat cheese and crushed black pepper buttercream, the name will give you a hint as to what the ingredients are. If you visit the old mining town of Ouray, however, you can stop in Mouse's Chocolates & Coffee for ...Doing Shots At The World's Highest Distillery
Jul 2nd, 2012 at 12:00PM: While trying local spirits is always a fun way to get to know a city's flavor, the Breckenridge Distillery in Colorado has something special to offer. Not only do they make small batch bourbon, vodka, whiskey, liqueurs and infusions, they're also the highest distillery in the world.
Their hooch is made at 9,600 feet, using snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains. If you visit their distillery, which ...5 Alternatives To Fireworks This (Very Dry) Fourth of July
Jul 2nd, 2012 at 11:00AM: It's hard to imagine the Fourth of July without fireworks, but for drought- and fire-stricken regions like Colorado, that's the way it's going to be this year. If you happen to be living or traveling in a no-fireworks zone, don't despair. There are still ways to celebrate our nation's birth without setting it ablaze.
Since I'm in Colorado right now, I brainstormed with a group of rangers at ...An Artisanal Taste Of Denver, Colorado
Jul 1st, 2012 at 12:00PM: While it's easy to find big-name chain restaurants and mass-produced foods, it's always nice to get a more local experience. One city with excellent quality and craft tastes is Denver, Colorado. To help you navigate the artisanal flavors of the area, here are my top picks.
Wine: D'Vine Wines
1660 Champa Street
The only winery in downtown Colorado, D'Vine Wines, also known as the Wild Women ...Canon City, Colorado: Prisons and Paddling
Jul 1st, 2012 at 10:00AM: You know how when you're driving out in the middle of nowhere, and you see those signs warning you not to pick up hitchhikers because you're passing a correctional facility?
Because, you know, it totally makes sense to locate prisons in isolated areas. Because, for most towns, being home to a prison isn't usually a tourism selling point – especially if they're already touted as a tourist ...Where To Have A Weird Dining Experience In Denver, Colorado
Jun 28th, 2012 at 12:00PM: What do you get when you mix a 300-pound gorilla, giant skulls, a 30-foot waterfall, battling pirates, '50s-era carnival games, taxidermy, flamethrowers, a mariachi band and mediocre Mexican food? The Denver area's kitschiest restaurant, Casa Bonita.
Once you enter, you'll go through an amusement park-style line system. For some reason, the restaurant thought it would be a good idea to have ...Where To Eat Exotic Meats In Denver, Colorado
Jun 26th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Located at 2148 Larimer Street, Biker Jim's is an unassuming hot dog restaurant serving up a very unique menu. While the crowds of families, couples and groups of friends may look like they're eating your average beef hot dog, they're more likely eating elk, duck, pheasant, buffalo, rattlesnake, wild boar or possibly reindeer. They also have a bat burger topped with bacon, avocado and tomato cream ...
